The Ford Escape is a very popular small SUV that millions of people use every day as their daily driver commuter car. As a reliable family vehicle with a fair amount of sports utility many families also use it as their weekend getaway vehicle.
If you have one of these peppy SUVs and you are thinking about investing in a camper, then you might be wondering just how big of a trailer can a Ford Escape pull?
Depending on model and trim package the 2021 Ford Escape offers a maximum towing capacity of 1,500 to 3,500 lbs. When properly equipped (2.0L EcoBoost® engine, Class II Trailer Tow Package upgrade) Escape can easily and safely pull a wide range of RVs including teardrop campers, popup campers, and light-weight travel trailers.
Though this is the absolute top end of the Ford Escape’s towing capacity. Though there are other trim levels that are not as robust.
If you are looking for the best Ford Escape to pair with your favorite lightweight camper or trailer, we will need to take a closer look at the nuts and bolts of the finer details.
IN THIS ARTICLE
How Much Can the 2022 Ford Escape Tow?
There are three distinct levels of the 2021 Ford Escape. Each has a different engine and other characteristics that will influence the maximum towing capacity.
Here’s the breakdown of 2022 Ford Escape Towing Capacities by Engine
- The Ford Escape with a 2.5L I4 Hybrid engine has a maximum towing capacity of up to 1,500 lbs.
- The Ford Escape with a 1.5L EcoBoost engine has a maximum towing capacity of up to 2,000 lbs.
- The Ford Escape with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine has a maximum towing capacity of up to 3,500 lbs.
Though these are just how the engine statistics compare. There are a lot of other mechanical factors that go into towing a trailer, which can vary from one trim level to the next.
The Ford Escape S, SE, SEL, & Titanium With 1.5 L EcoBoost
With a 1.5L EcoBoost engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission. These models have 179-horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque to pair with a maximum towing capacity of 2,000-pounds.
The Ford Escape SEL & Titanium With 2.0 L
The 2.0 L engine on these trim levels paired with the Class II Tow Package, and 6-speed automatic transmission, produces 245-horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. This translates into a 3.500-pound maximum towing capacity.
The Ford Escape Hybrid
As a newcomer to the scene, the Ford Escape Hybrid is powered by a 2.5L iVCT Atkinson Cycle I-4 engine. This gives it 168-horsepower and 170 lb.-ft. of torque, which translates into a maximum towing capacity of up to 1,500-pounds.
Does the 2022 Ford Escape Have a Towing Package?
The Ford Escape SEL & Titanium has an optional Class II Trailer Tow Package. This gives it the ability to tow up to 3,500-pounds, with a maximum hitch weight of up to 350-pounds.
The Ford Escape Tow Package also includes a Trailer Wiring Harness (4-Pin), the Hitch Receiver, and Trailer Sway Control as well as an Auxiliary Transmission Oil Cooler.
This represents one of the most comprehensive trailers towing packages in this class of SUV on the US domestic market.
Can The 2022 Ford Escape Tow An RV?
Most of the Ford Escape trim levels can tow smaller RV, like popup campers and small teardrop trailers.
The good news is at its highest trim level with the 2.0L EcoBoost® engine and its Class II Trailer Tow Package, the Ford Escape has a maximum towing capacity of up to 3,500-pounds.
This is sufficient to pull a wide range of teardrop campers, popup campers, and small travel trailers.
What Kind Of Camper Can The Ford Escape Tow?
The 2021 Ford Escape SEL & Titanium With 2.0 L and the Class II Trailer Package can tow up to 3,500 pounds with a maximum hitch weight of 350-pounds. This is well in range for most popup campers, most teardrop campers, and even a few lightweight travel trailers.
The Ford Escape S, SE, SEL, & Titanium With 1.5 L EcoBoost can tow up to 2,000-pounds. Which is still within range of most small popup campers, and a lot of teardrop campers as well as a few lightweight travel trailers.
Though to truly make the most out of the power produced by the engine, you will want to prioritize a model that comes with the Class II Trailer Package included in the purchase.
If it doesn’t have the trailer package included, you should definitely ask the dealership or a certified mechanic to install it before attempting to tow a trailer on the open road.
Can A 2022 Ford Escape Hybrid Tow An RV?
With a 2.5L iVCT Atkinson Cycle I-4 engine and a maximum towing capacity of up to 1,500-pounds hybrid Escape can tow many lightweight popup campers and even a few of the more-streamlined light teardrop campers.
Though it will need to have the Class II towing package installed, and you will have to accept that the act of towing will impact the overall fuel efficiency.
What Are Some Of The Best Campers A Ford Escape Can Tow?
To find the best campers that a Ford Escape can tow, it helps to break them down by weight category. This will let you pair the right trim model of Ford Escape to the camper you are considering.
The list here could be rather long, so it’s best to consider this the tip of a much larger iceberg of campers, travel trailers, and popup campers.
4 Best Pop-up Camper For 2022 Ford Escape
1: SylvanSport GO Ultra-Lightweight Camper Trailer
The Sylvan Sport Go Is a popup tent camper that only weighs 840-pounds, which makes it towable by all trim levels of the Ford Escape.
It has a Kelty Tent System, in the standard package. Though you can upgrade to the GO Big or GO All Out packages which can add things like an awning, privacy curtain, solar kit, and other popular amenities.
One of the nice things about the Sylvan Sport Go Trailer is that it has a cargo rack on top. This lets you haul things like kayaks and mountain bikes with you on your outdoor RVing adventure.
2: 2022 Coachmen CLIPPER EXPRESS 9.0TD
Coachmen Clipper 9.0TD is a small popup camper with a rear tent that extends out. It only weighs 1,080 pounds, which puts it comfortably in range for all the trim levels of the Ford Escape to tow safely.
It is arguably one of the most well-appointed popup campers in this class.
It comes with a furnace, AC unit, outdoor grill, fridge, Bluetooth stereo, solar panel adapter, sink, a porta-potty, a propane tank, and an indoor-outdoor table included in the initial purchase.
There are also optional upgrades available to customize it to your family’s camping style.
3: Turtleback Trailer Getaway
This is another expandable popup tent-trailer that was designed with sports utility in mind.
Though at 1,350-pounds Turtleback Trailers Getaway pushes the limits of what a 2.5-liter and hybrid Ford Escape can safely tow at highway speeds.
When you get to camp the trailer base expands into an impressive tent complex with a staggering amount of storage space for gear and creature comforts.
4: 2021 Forest River Rockwood Tent Freedom Series 1640LTD
Rockwood 1640LTD Is one of Forest River’s most popular popup expandable campers. It can sleep up to 7 people.
It comes complete with a small dinette, sink, two cabinets, and a fridge inside. It also has a 7-foot awning and a portable gas grill included in the purchase.
Though at 1,480-pounds it is the heaviest of this class of trailer.
3 Best Camper Trailers (Weight Under 3,000 Pounds) A Ford Escape Can Tow
When we step up to the 3,000-pound range, which represents the maximum limit of theFord Escape SEL & Titanium With 2.0 L and the Class II Trailer Package you start to see a lot more options throughout the range of popup campers, teardrop campers, and even a few lightweight travel trailers.
1: Jayco Jay Series Sport Camping Trailer
There are multiple trim levels of this very popular, though slightly heavy popup camper. On the light end of the spectrum, the Jay Sport might only tip the scales at 2,250-pounds, which is within range of the higher trim levels of the Ford Escape.
Though at the higher end of the scale it can weigh as much as 3,375, which is beyond what any trim level of the Ford Escape can handle.
So, before you pull the trigger on a Jayco Jay Sport, you need to check the fine print to make sure the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is within the safe maximum towing capacity of your Ford Escape.
2: Scamp 13’ Standard Light Weight Travel Trailer
With a very loyal following this fiberglass travel trailer only weighs in with a GVWR of 2,200-pounds, which might be out of the range of the lower trim levels of the Ford Escape but is still comfortably in reach for the top levels of the Ford Escape.
At 13-feet long, it can sleep up to four people comfortably. It’s available in two different floorplan layouts to meet your family’s preferred travel style.
3: Happier Camper HC1
HC1 by Happier Camper is an interesting little camper with an impressive amount of storage. Though you need to be mindful of just how much you load it up.
When this travel trailer is empty it totes around with an impressively low dry weight of just 1,100-pounds, which is in range of all Ford Escape trim levels.
Though if you load it up to the gills, you are looking at a travel trailer with a gross vehicle weight rating of up to 3,500-pounds, which is more than even the highest trim level of Ford Escape can handle.
How Much Weight Can A Ford Escape Safely Tow?
When it comes to any SUV or pickup truck’s safe towing limits, it is best to stay under 80% of the stated maximum towing capacity in the owner’s manual.
This will give you enough power in reserve for towing at highway speeds as well as tackling steep inclines or roads with a loose surface. When we translate this into the different capabilities of the various trim levels of the Ford Escape we get the following.
The Ford Escape SEL & Titanium With 2.0 L with a maximum towing capacity of 3,000-pounds can safely tow up to 2,400-pounds at highway speeds.
In the case of the Ford Escape S, SE, SEL, & Titanium With 1.5 L EcoBoost with a 2,000-pound maximum towing capacity you can safely expect to tow around 1,600-pounds.
With the Ford Escape hybrid with a 1,500-pound maximum towing capacity, you can safely tow around 1,200-pounds.
What Is The Difference Between Dry Weight & GVWR?
With the Ford Escape, you need to be particularly mindful of the difference between the dry weight of a trailer and the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The dry weight is essentially what the trailer itself weighs with absolutely nothing in it.
Traveling with an empty trailer makes it easier for the Ford Escape to tow.
Though in the real world you are going to have camping and living items in the trailer, which will increase the gross weight up to the maximum the trailer can handle, which is the GVWR.
When determining if your Ford Escape is capable of towing a particular trailer, you need to make sure that the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is 80% of the maximum towing capacity of the Escape’s trim level.
You can only safely get away with using the dry weight as the determining factor if you are truly dedicated to towing the trailer totally empty.
Is the Ford Escape a Reliable SUV for Towing?
With its compact versatility and sports utility, the Ford Escape can serve as both a fuel-efficient commuter vehicle as well as a weekend tow vehicle for pulling a relatively modest trailer.
Though the trim level and engine, as well as the inclusion of the Class II Tow Package, will make a major difference.
If you want to tow a lightweight popup camper like the Sylvan Sport Go Trailer, then the fuel-efficient Ford Escape hybrid might be the best model to meet your needs.
If you want to tow something a little heavier like the Coachmen Clipper 9.0TD or the Turtleback Trailer Getaway then the Ford Escape S, SE, SEL, & Titanium With 1.5 L EcoBoost with a 2,000-pound maximum towing capacity might be the best trim level of the Ford Escape to meet your needs.
If you have somewhat heavier aspirations like the Scamp 13’ Standard Light Weight Travel Trailer or some of the mid-weight models of the Jayco Jay Sport, then the Ford Escape SEL & Titanium With 2.0 L with a maximum towing capacity of 3,000-pounds is going to be the better option to safely tow the camper down the road.
